Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-17
A vExED QUESTION.
To the Editor OF the Eagle.

| TO the EDITOR OF the Eagle
The following correspondence explains
| itself:
To settle discussion now in progress here
please answer the following questions: l.
When will the nineteenth century close, (at
the end of what year, month and day, as
commonly written)? g Assuming that
time began with the beginning of the
Christian era, how were dates during the
first year writtens g. Is today February
/, 1884, in the 18S7th or 1SSSth year? 4.
How many years, expressed in whole num-
bers and decimals approximately, have
elapsed since the beginning of the present
era? 5. Was 1850 the first year Of the sec
ond half of the nineteenth century or the
last year of the first half of the century?
ENQUIRER.
TEAGLE OFFICE, Feb. ).
Respectfully referred to Prof Chedister,
superintendent of Wichita public schools.
Ed EAGLE.
FEBRUARY -, 1887.
II. NJ Murdoch, Esq
DEAR SIR:-In reply to yours of Feb. 1,
referred,) l submit the enclosed: | gave
the questions to High school pupils, but
there find the greatest diversity of opin-
ion. Fully one-half are against the ans
wers I have submitted, and hold to the be-
lief that the 18th century ends with Dec.
81. 1859. Of course in this matter | have
not gone into history to show that Dyoni-
sius, the reputed author of the present era,
adopted the 25th of March, which proceed
ed the birth of Christ nine months, as the
beginning; nor to show that the actual
birth Of Christ was four years before the
date commonly known as the Christian
Era, and from which time is now reckoned.
If any such matter was to be considered
of course my answers will be voted down.
| answered what took the questions to
mean on their face.
Respectfully, NJ. CHIDEsTER.
ANSWER
|. when will the nineteenth century
close Cat the end Of what year, month and
day as commonly written)?'
Ans.-It will close December 31st at IL
o'clock D. m of the year 1900, just before
the year 1901 or twentieth century com
menceS.
Remark-It was necessary to include
December of the year A. d. to complete
the first year, before the second began.
Also it was necessary to include the first
Tooth year to make the first century, and so
likewise it is necessary to include the 1900th
year to complete the nineteenth century
2. Assuming that time began with the
beginning of the Christian era, how were
dates during the first year of time writ
tent"
Ans.-Commencing with January /, as
the present beginning Gas at present. any
day would be month and day as at present,
and the year would be 1. Thus February
LIST of that year would be February LIST,
l." or February LIST, A. NJ, l.
Remark-"This fact becomes apparent
when we remember that we live within a
century-a year and day-and that hav-
ing entered upon it, and not yet having
reached its close, we simply give as date
the period between whose extremes we are;
hence being between the first and last ex-
tremes OF the first year we should say
year L.
D. as today February l, 1880 in the
1SS7th or 1SSSth year,"
Ans. TT is the 1SS7th year. The 1SS7th
year is not yet completed, but will end
Dec 81, 1887, at - o'clock p. M, at
which time the 1SSSth year will begin"
4. "How many years, expressed in whole
numbers and decimals approximately, have
elapsed since the beginning of the present
era?"
Ans "1SS6, os3333. That is, up to De-
cember 81, az p NJ 1886, there had just
1886 years elapsed-up to February /,
1887, would be just month more"
5. "Was 1850 the first year of the sec
ond half of the nineteenth century, or the
last year Of the first half or the century"
Ans. ut was the last year of the first
half of the century"
Remark - There had not been one
year of the century until 1902 was just to
begin, nor two years till 1903 was just to
begin, nor so years until 1851 was just on
the threshold, so that the first half of the
century ended on December 81, 1850 at -
o'clock p. m, and the first year of the last
half of the century began January 1, 1851,
Immediately afterwards"
FULL. BLOOD AND THOROUGHBRED